Note-Making & Summarizing

Article Writing
Speech Writing
Debate Writing (Debatable Type Only)

After analysing the past year question papers of CBSE board English subject we have
found that the questions are commonly based on the following topics:

1. Education – CBSE class 12 board exam English papers commonly includes questions
based on Education so as to make the students aware of its importance in everyone’s
life. Therefore, the writing skills section of Class 12 English board exam includes topics
like:

Girl Education
Women Empowerment
Increasing drop-out rate of schools
Banning mobile phones in School
Introduction of Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE)

For attempting questions on these topics students need to have complete knowledge
about the topics. To get an idea about what questions related to education might be
asked in the English paper, students can study the trends in education for past two years;
for example – regulation of fee/fee hike in private schools has been in news last year, or
Is entrance exam the right method of selection for admissions to undergraduate courses
etc.; therefore, there could be essay or debate questions on this topic.

2. Environment – Our environment has become a topic of serious concern nowadays.

With global warming and many other man-made hazards affecting our environment,
students need to know about the issues and measures to save it. Therefore, the board
has included environmental topics in the CBSE class 12 English exams to create
awareness among students. Students will be required to write essays, debates, notices,
letters etc. The questions on this topic includes:

Environment safety measures

Cleanliness
Water Conservation
Electricity Conservation

3. Health – For proper education of students about health and fitness and many health-
related issues, the education board has included these topics in Class 12 English board
exam. The questions on this topic will include awareness about health, diseases, fitness
and Government initiatives and programmes. The question can be asked in form of
report writing, notice writing as a school head boy or girl. Also, there can be essay,
speech or debate questions for:

Importance of Yoga
Diet pills for losing weight
Effects of pollution on health

4. Technology – Technology has become an integral part of our lives. Today, every
other person has access to internet and tech devices. Therefore, it is important for
students to know about it as well and this is why students are asked to write about
various topics of technology so that students become aware of its uses as well as
advantages and disadvantages. The students will be required to write on latest
technology, trending device or applications. The questions based on this topic are as
under:

Use of Technology in Education

Mobile phones or technical devices for education
Cybercrime and safety measures against it
GPRS system in school buses

5. Social Issues – Making students aware of the issues in society has become really
important and they should be able to understand as well as take initiatives to stop social
evils. Therefore, the writing skills section of class 12 English board exam can include on
such issues in our society. The topics on social issues in India are most commonly asked
in the language papers. Students will be required to write essays, debate or letters; for
example :

Necessity of homes for orphans or old age people

Child marriage is a curse
Child labour
Illiteracy
Religion-based violence
Corruption or Prime Minister’s initiative against black money i.e. demonetisation of Indian
currency
Abortion or killing girl child
Increasing Divorce rate
1. PROBLEM TYPE
1. Increasing drop-out rate of schools

1. Though the education is becoming more essential and the level of illiteracy is reducing
due to technology and high demanding job markets, still the education system is facing
some of the challenges that come along with the increasing demands for it. Though the
education system is facing several challenges today, there is one major challenge that
has been reported in most of the training institutes. It is a fact that most students do not
complete their education and drop out before high school. ‘Dropouts’ as the name
suggests, is a term that is commonly used to refer to those students who for one reason
or another terminate their studies before completing their school education. Several
reasons and causes have come up that are believed to have contributed towards
students this problem. As we all know that there is no action without consequences, there
are several observable effects that do not only affect the dropouts, but the society at
large. Thus, this article is aimed to look at the causes and effects of dropping out of high
school, why students decide to drop out of school and how this decision affects their lives
and the society at large.

2. As I have already mentioned that there are several reasons that are associated with
the high rates of students dropping out of school today, some of commonly known
include poor parenting, peer pressure, life style, social background and parental
misguidance among others. Poor parenting has been considered to be the greatest
challenge that causes students to drop out. For instance, students that come from
divorced parents, single parents and abusive parents are more likely to leave school
before graduating than those that come from socially secure families. Divorced and/or
single parents face high chances to fail covering school fees, something that may have a
psychological effect on students. Once the psychology is affected, students’ performance
falls, and they feel wasted until they are asked to retake a course. Poorly parented
students may also leave school so they can raise some money to provide for their
families. Abusive parents on the other hand affect their children’s performance in school
by not giving them the love and trust as other parents do. Such children, therefore,
become depressed and most of them end up running away from home to escape their
parents’ bad behavior.

3. Peer pressure is also another factor that causes students drop out of school. Most
students in the same age brackets tend to have several things in common and will try as
much as they can to share ideas, both good and bad. Some of the bad ideas that are
forcibly put on by peers include use of drug and violence. Young people who do drugs
perform poorly in school. At the same time, drug use is prohibited in most schools
worldwide, thus students who engage in substance abuse are therefore automatically
kicked out of school. Violence such as bullying and fights have made students become
less interested in school and when this is not well-addressed in school, then the affected
students tend to drift away and finally drop out.

4. Another factor is life style. As life style changes with time, most students have the
mentality that they are better accepted in the society when they drive expensive cars,
dressed in superior clothes and display some ostentatious lives. Thus those students
whose parents are incapable of meeting such standards feel misplaced and cannot stand
this agony, particularly when they study with well off students in the long run they drop
out of school.

5. Social background and parental misguidance are also factors widely known to
contribute to the increased number of school dropouts. Social background and parental
guidance matter a great deal in determining whether a student will complete a certain
education level or not. For instance, parents who dropped out of school are likely to bring
up school dropouts compared to parents who had completed school. This happens
because dropout parents are more likely to lack school fees due to unemployment and/or
low income thus forcing their children to drop out of school. At the same time, dropout
parents do not experience the urgency and importance of education thus they do not
value it, thus do not put emphasis on the importance of education to their children.
Meanwhile, parental misguidance is also becoming a contributing factor towards dropping
out of school. There are families that have lived good lives without relying on education.
Such families do not believe that education is the only path to good living and thus they
also do not accentuate the need of education for their children. When this happens,
students are at their own liability to choose whether to complete or drop out of school.

6. Other causes, even though are less common, also make an impact and include early
pregnancies, environmental and social changes, teacher-student relationship and
students’ attitudes. Even though this is not common in most states of America, girls that
get pregnant while still in high school are forced to drop out so as to take care of their
children. Despite the fact that the education system gives them the chance to go back
and continue their education, most of them do not do so due to stigma from the society
and fellow students. Abrupt changes in social and environmental settings also affect
students’ performance and in the long run it can cause student to drop out of school.
Changes such as the loss of a parent or a care-giver who was responsible for paying
school fees, as well as changes in the school environment due to transfers, may also
result in the high school dropouts.

7. Teacher-student relationship also matters a great deal when it comes to whether the
student will complete high school or not. Students tend to percept teachers as their own
parents and will believe in everything they are told by their teachers. Nevertheless, if
these two people are not in good terms, then there are high chances of the student trying
to avoid the teacher particularly if they hold an argument. Teachers who discourage
students by telling them that they are good for nothing and that nothing special can come
out of their heads also plays a role in making them to hate school. Harsh punishments
given by teachers to the students may also send a different message and interpreted
differently by students with low affinity to school. Thus teachers have to be very careful in
handling students since they come from different backgrounds.

8. On the other hand, there are students who will drop out of high school because of
negative attitude towards the school or certain subjects offered in the school. For
instance, there are students who will simply do not go to certain schools because they
are traditional schools or because they are not within big cities. Not because such
schools do not perform well: it is the students’ conscious that tells them such school
belongs to a group of low social standards thus they do not want to be associated with
such schools. Therefore students who find themselves in such situations may end up
dropping out so as to protect their self-image.

9. As there are numerous causes for dropping out of school, one can find an uncountable
number of its consequences. Some of the commonly highlighted consequences of
dropping out of school include unemployment, unhealthy living, poverty, single parenting,
divorce, drug abuse, violence, and the worst is being dependant on governmental
support to survive. Even though school dropping out mainly affects those individuals, it
also in one way or another affects the society and the government at large. This is
because a nation is said to suffer if its general population cannot meet the average
needs. However, consequences of dropping out are more felt by the individuals than the
society. For this reason, this discussion will first tackle the effects that concern the lives of
the individual drop outs before undertaking those that impinge on the society.

10. With the high rate of so many societies embracing technology and the high growing
job market, employers have found need in hiring employees who are competent enough
to meet the market demands as they contribute to the social dynamics. Therefore, this
calls for super intellects with good sense of education. With such competition, chances of
dropouts finding employment are reduced and most of them remain unemployed. In the
mean time, high school dropouts that get employed will end up earning little compared to
their counterparts who graduated. This automatically means that they are likely to live in
poverty in the sense that they can only acquire minimum social amenities for their
survival compared to the graduates. For example, they will

11. As mentioned earlier that one of the causes for dropping out of school is early
pregnancies, its repercussion turns out to be single parenting. Most girls who drop out of
school due to early pregnancies end up bringing up their children by themselves since in
most cases fathers of those children are also young boys who can barely provide for the
newborns. Thus girls are left to bring up their young ones by themselves, something that
is not accepted by society. Statistics shows that most of the divorce cases come from
families with poor education backgrounds. This may be because understanding of each
other is very low or because they cannot provide for their families and hence they tend to
run away from reality.

12. Drug abuse and violence have also been reported to be high in cities/ places where a
bigger percentage of the population is illiterate. Due to lack of employment, idleness
drives young people into venture activities that ruin social norms. Among these activities
is drug abuse, which comes hand in hand with violence like robbery and general
misconduct. This therefore, affects not only the individuals but the society as well since it
is the public who is robbed and even get injured in cases where the robbers are armed.
Still the worst outcome is that criminals end up in jail, thus mandating the government to
feed them while there.

13. As the above effects point directly to the individual dropouts, they indirectly affect the
society and the government as well. For instance, when we have so many people living in
poverty due to low income, as a result of people dropping out of school, then it means
that the society has to raise some more money through taxation so as to enable the
government to fund their housing, hospital and education bills and other basic
necessities. Unemployment also lowers the nation’s gross income, something that
government has to put up with for years, particularly in the economic crisis period.

14. In conclusion, it is very clear that education is the strength of character of any
individual and society and lack of it yields the worst results. Since there is no shortcut to
life, the world we live in today fevers those that are ready to face the education challenge
and emerge the suitable supermen for the fast evolving job market. Consequently, those
who are not competent enough due to not graduating from school end up living
despondent lives, and burdening the society to provide some basic necessities such as
accommodation and health amenities. Besides, they are the very same people who will
engage in blasphemous behaviors such as drug abuse and violence. Accordingly, it is
only wise if students are encouraged to graduation from high schools since it is the only
way they are guaranteed to live better lives.

2. Increasing Divorce rate

1. Divorce means the termination of marital relations. It means dissolution of the marital
bond. Technically speaking, divorce means a decree of dissolution of marriage. Divorce
is a process through which marital bond ceases to be in existence as per law and the
couple can no longer be called the husband or the wife.

2. Divorce allows the couple to come back to the status as if they are not married. They
become free to marry again. Divorce means the dissolution of marital relations, rights and
obligations.

3. Hindu marriage is regarded as sacred because it is a bond of indissoluble nature. In

any society when the married persons feel that they cannot live together, they have no
other alternative but to dissolve the marriage. Divorce is the final dissolution of marriage.
As far as Hindus are concerned, the bond of matrimony was regarded as permanent
bond and dissolution of marriage was generally not regarded as proper.

4. Hindu marriage is an unbreakable, permanent bond. Keeping this in view, Manu says
that the husband and the wife should always treat each other in such a manner that no
occasion may arise for them to separate from each other. Despite this permanent nature
of Hindu marriage, Hind Dharma Sastras approve dissolution of marriage under certain
special circumstances.

Divorce in Early India:

5. Narada and Parashara have laid down rules that marriage could be dissolved if the
husband was found to be impotent. According to Narada, if a woman finds that her
husband is devoid of manliness and virility, she has to wait for six months and after the
lapse of this period she can choose another husband. According to the Smritis, there are
five cases in which the wife is allowed to have second husband. These conditions are:

1. If the first husband is missing

2. If a husband becomes an ascetic
3. If a husband is impotent.
4. If a husband is degraded from the caste.
5. If a husband is dead.

6. Narada is of the opinion that, in case the husband is missing the wife must wait for four
years for his return, if she has no child and she is a Brahmin. Then she has to wait for
three years, if she is Kshatriya and two years if she is a Vaishya. In case the wife has an
issue from the lost husband, then she has to wait for double the period.

7. Kautilya permits the woman to abandon her husband if he has bad character, if he is
out for a very long time or if he has become a traitor or if he is likely to endanger her life
or if he has lost his virility. Kautilya speaks of divorce as Moksha. A divorce can be
obtained where there is hatred or enmity between the husband and the, wife. But neither
the husband nor the wife can dissolve marriage against the will of the other party. He had
sanctioned divorce only in four ‘Adharmic’ marriages namely, Asura, Gandharva,
Paisacha and Rakshasa on grounds mentioned above by him. He is of the opinion that
the bond of marriage, according to Brahma, Daiva, Arsha and Prajapataya forms cannot
be dissolved at all. In other four forms, marital ties cannot be dissolved without mutual
consent.

8. Kapadia has remarked, “The principle of divorce is alien to the social pattern in which
Hindus have been living for centuries. It is quite understandable for men not to
understand: The overthrow of their long and firmly organised control of women’s sexual
conduct”. It is thus clear that the classical Hindu thinkers allowed divorce in certain
special conditions.

Divorce in Recent Years:

9. Although traditionally divorce was neither easily allowed nor commonly practiced, with
the passage of the Hindu Marriage Acts, legal provisions have been made for either
judicial separation or divorce. A number of Acts have been passed in recent years which
permit judicial separation and divorce.

10. The Bombay Hindu Divorce Act, 1947 sanctioned judicial separation or divorce on the
grounds of impotency, lunacy for more than seven years, leprosy not less than seven
years, desertion for a continuous period of four years and bigamy.

11. However, the first legislation relating to the dissolution of marriage in modern times is
perhaps one passed by the Kolhapur state during 1920’s. Madras and Saurashtra
Government passed similar Acts in 1949 and 1952 respectively. Madras Hindu Bigamy
Prevention and Divorce Act of 1949 prohibit bigamy and provide divorce for Hindus.

12. On an all India level, the Special Marriage Act was passed in 1954 and the Hindu
Marriage Act in 1955, which legally permitted divorce to Hindus. Hindus include
Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs etc. This Act supersedes any text, rule or interpretation of
Hindu law or any custom or usage hitherto recognized as part of that law. The Hindu
Marriage Act, 1955 amended in 1976 and 1981, provides for judicial separation, divorce,
nullity of marriage and annulment of marriage.
13. It is only when two years have elapsed since the date of marriage a petition for
divorce may be made. But to start with, one gets only judicial separation for two years
during which one may try to reconcile with his/her partner. Judicial separation means
separation from bed and board. During this period, husband continues to pay the
maintenance allowance to his wife. If, however, reconciliation is not made during this
period, then one gets the decree of divorce.

Rising of Divorce Rate in India:

14. There have been steady rises in divorce rates in India throughout recent decades.
The causes of marital breakdown in the form of divorce or separation in India are different
from that of the Western countries. However, many factors are associated with the rise in
divorce rate in India.

15. The changing attitudes towards divorce have been institutionalized by various
changes in laws which have made room for divorce. Divorce legislations were influenced
by the notion of suffering and unhappiness of the adults trapped in the so called ’empty-
shell’ marriages, where the spouses live together but their marriages exist in name only.
These legislations provided grounds for divorce and made divorce considerably easier.

16. Changes in value attached to marriage and conflict are important for explanation of
marital breakdown. A change in norms and values has affected the marital bond among
the Indians. It may be mentioned that the social stigma attached to divorce has been
considerably reduced. This, in fact, has made divorce easier.

17. Change in attitudes towards divorce is a part of the process of secularization in Indian
society. Secularization refers to the declining influence of religion. Marriage in traditional
Hindu society was considered as a sacred bond. Hinduism insisted that the bond of
marriage is not only for this life, but for many lives to come. But gradually Hindus have
started taking less rigid view in this regard due to their secular beliefs and values.

18. Now women take up paid employment not because of the demand for their services
and benefits extended to them for their welfare but because of their rising material
expectations – the demand for goods that their families desire. This material, aspirations
can only be satisfied by both spouses working as wage earners.

19. However, conflict results from the contradiction between female wage earners and
the normative expectations which surround married life. Working wives are still expected
to be primarily responsible for housework and child rearing. In addition, they are
expected, to some degree, to play a subservient role to their husbands.

20. The normative expectation contradicts the wife’s role as wage earner since she is
now sharing the economic burden with her husband. Conflict is arising between the
spouses from this contradiction and this conflict is leading to marital breakdown.
21. The various studies conducted in India give us some idea about causes of divorce.
Damle in his study found that the important causes of divorce are: domestic disharmony
including quarrels between husband and wife, ill-treatment by husband and quarrel with
in-laws, barrenness of wife, immoral conduct of wife, spouse’s inability to fulfill marital
obligation due to disease and personal nature etc. Fohseca in her study found that the
primary causes of divorce are: desertion and cruelty, adultery, impotency etc. She also
observed that the legal causes of divorce are different from the real causes. In different
studies, it is found that divorce is granted on the basis of adultery. Moreover, in most of
the cases desertion is used as a ground of divorce. In this case cause of divorce is
something different.

22. The causes of divorce are not uniform between various social groups. Divorce is not
spread evenly across the population. The changes which have influenced the rate of
marital breakdown have not affected all the members of our society in the same way. The
changes in society are filtered through the class system. As a result there are differences
in rate of marital breakdown in different social groups. Divorce rate varies in India with the
social class as well as occupational status.

23. It can be concluded that the divorce rate in India has been increasing since 1960. On
the other hand, the trend of the courts is towards preventing hasty and frivolous divorce.
The courts try to promote reconciliation and prevent hasty breakups.

3. Terrorism

1. Terrorism in India has a long history. It is a cowardly act by the terrorist groups who wish
to disturb the peace of the country. It aims to create a state of panic amongst the people.
They want to keep the people in a constant state of fear to stop the country from prospering.

2. Time to time, they carry out terrorist acts to remind people of the fear they want them to
live in. Consequently, there are roughly 100 terrorist cells that are operating in India. They
have to an extent successfully created an atmosphere of tension amongst the citizens.
Terrorism impacts the country gravely and has dangerous repercussions.

Impact of Terrorism in India

3. As discussed earlier, terrorism has a major impact on any country. When we look at a
developing country like India, it is all the more harmful. Firstly, it creates a state of panic
amongst the citizens. The bomb blasts or firing impacts the mental health of people. This
causes the untimely death of various citizens or leaves them handicapped. The anxiety and
fear one has to live in restrict their way of living to a great extent.
4. Moreover, terrorism has a major impact on the tourism industry. As tourists avoid visiting
places that are vulnerable to terrorist attacks, the tourism industry faces a blow. India is a
country that earns a lot of its revenue from tourism. When these attacks happen, they cause
fear amongst the tourists as well. The ones planning to visit cancel their trips. Similarly, the
ones staying presently shorten their trip and leave.

5. Furthermore, terrorist attacks create a sense of doubt in the foreign investors of India.
After all, who would want to invest in a country prone to terrorism? They avoid the risk and
instead opt for safer alternatives. This causes a huge blow to the business of India
depending on them.

6. Thus, it damages the economy. As terrorist attacks cause loss of life and property, the
replenishment takes up a lot of capital. It also results in people leaving the country to settle
abroad for a safer environment. This makes India lose a lot of potential doctors, engineers,
artists and more.

Major Terror Attacks in India

7. India has faced a number of terror attacks over time. The worst of them is definitely the
26/11 terror attack which took place in Mumbai. The terrorists captured renowned places
like Nariman House, Hotel Oberoi Trident and Hotel Taj. They killed almost 170 people and
injured around 300 people. All these victims were police officers, security personnel, or
tourists.

8. The Mumbai Train Blasts were also very deadly. They took place in the local trains of
Mumbai and happened at seven railway stations. It claimed 210 lives and injured 715
people.

9. The Indian Parliament Attack was also very surprising. As the parliament is one of the
safest buildings. The terrorist managed to kill three parliament staff members and six police
officers. It remains shocking as one wonders how such a safe place could come under
attack. In short, terrorism in India needs to be eradicated to safeguard the country and help
it prosper.

4. Unemployment

1. Unemployment is a very serious issue not only in India but in the whole world. There are
hundreds and thousands of people out there who do not have employment. Besides, the
problems of unemployment are very severe in India because of the growing population and
demand for jobs. Moreover, if we neglect this problem then it will be going to become the
reason for the doom of the nation.
What is Unemployment?

2. Unemployment refers to a situation in which a skilled and talented people wanted to do a

job. But cannot find a proper job due to several reasons.

Types of Unemployment

3. Now we know what is unemployment but unemployment does not only mean that the
person does not have a job. Likewise, unemployment also includes people working in areas
out of their expertise.

4. The various types of unemployment include disguised unemployment, seasonal

unemployment, open unemployment, technological unemployment, structural
unemployment. Besides, some other unemployment is cyclic unemployment, educated
unemployment, underemployment, frictional unemployment, chronic unemployment, and
casual unemployment. Above all, seasonal unemployment, under unemployment, and
disguised unemployment are the most common unemployment that is found in India.

Reasons for Unemployment

5. In a country like India, there is much reason for a large section of the population for being
unemployed. Some of these factors are population growth, slow economic growth, seasonal
occupation, slow growth of the economic sector, and fall in the cottage industry.

6. Moreover, these are the major reason for unemployment in India. Also, the situation has
become so drastic that highly educated people are ready to do the job of a sweeper.
Besides, the government is not doing his work seriously.
7. Apart from all these, a large portion of the population is engaged in the agricultural sector
and the sector only provides employment in harvest or plantation time.

8. In addition, the biggest reason of unemployment in India is its vast population which
demands a large number of jobs every year which the government and authorities are
unable to provide.

Consequences of Unemployment

9. If things will go on like the current scenario then unemployment will become a major
issue. Apart from this, the following things happen in an economy which is an increase in
poverty, an increase in crime rate, exploitation of labor, political instability, mental health,
and loss of skills. As a result, all this will eventually lead to the demise of the nation.

Initiative by Government

10. The government has taken the problem very seriously and have taken measures to
slowly reduce unemployment. Some of these schemes includes IRDP (Integrated Rural
Development Programme), DPAP (Drought Prone Area Programme), Jawahar Rozgar
Yojana, Employment Assurance Scheme, NRY (Nehru Rozgar Yojana), Training for self-
Employment, PMIUPEP (Prime Minister’s Integrated Urban Poverty Eradication Program),
employment exchange, Employment Guarantee Scheme, development of organized sector,
small and cottage industries, employment in forging countries, and Jawahar Gram Samridhi
Yojana and few more.

11. Besides, these schemes the government also make some rules flexible, so that
employment can be created in the private sector also.

12. To conclude, we can say that the problem of unemployment in India has reached a
critical stage. But, now the government and local authorities have taken the problem
seriously and working on it to reduce unemployment. Also, to completely solve the issue of
unemployment we have to tackle the main issue of unemployment that is the vast
population of India.

5. Female Foeticide

1. Female foeticide is the aborting of a girl fetus in the womb before its complete growth.
Why? This is because that it is female? Female foeticide has become a disgraceful and
shocking truth of our nation. In India, there is a strong fondness for sons over daughter.
People desire smaller families with comparatively greater sons by abuse medical
technologies. It is one of the main motives for declining sex ratio.
What is Female Foeticide?

2. Female foeticide is the procedure of abortion to terminate female fetus from the womb of
the mother before taking birth after the sex recognition tests like an ultrasound scan.
Female foeticide and even any sex recognition test is illegal in India. It is the shame for the
parents who are despairing for a baby boy as well as doctors doing abortions especially for
this.

Causes of Female Foeticide:

3. Female foeticide has been in practice for periods especially for the families who have a
preference only male child. Several religious, social, financial and emotional are the reason
for female foeticide. Therefore the time has been changed now much however, many
reasons and beliefs are ongoing in some families. Some main reasons for female foeticide
are:
 Generally, parents don’t want a girl baby because they have to give a big amount as a
dowry at daughter’s marriage.

 There is a faith that girls are always consumer and boys are the only producer. Thus
Parents understand that son will earn money for the whole life and care their parents
however girls will get married a day and will have a separate family.

 There is a belief that the son will carry the name of the family in future however the
girl has to carry the husband’s family.

 This is a prestige issue in society for parent and grandparent to have a boy baby in
the family besides having a daughter.

 There is a stress on the new bride of the family to give birth to a male child so she is
enforced to go for sex recognition and abort if girl baby.

 Illiteracy, insecurity, and poverty of people in society are also major reasons for girl
baby burden.

 Science and Technological advancement and utilities have made this very easy task
for parents.

Impact of female foeticide on the sex ratio:

4. Sex ratio denotes the ratio of females to males in a specific region. Many practices like
female foeticide and female infanticide (killing a baby girl after her birth) have had a contrary
influence on the sex ratio. Thus it rises and promotes many social evils.

5. As per the decennial Indian census, Sex Ratio of India is 107.48. It means 107.48 males
per 100 females in 2019. Therefore India has 930 females per 1000 males. So, India has
48.20% female population compare to 51.80% male population.
Effective Measures to Control:

6. As we all know that female foeticide is a crime and social evil for the future of women.
Hence we should notice the causes for female foeticide in Indian society. Female infanticide
or female feticide is primarily because of sex determination. Some measures are:

 Law must be implemented and one should be surely punished if found guilty for this
unkind exercise.

 Permanent cancellation of license should be done if it is going on in medical practice.

 Marketing of medical tools specifically for illegal sex determination and abortion
should be a bane.

 Parents must be fined who want to kill their girl baby.

 Campaigns and seminars should be regularly held to aware of young couples.

 Women should be aware so that they can be more attentive to their rights.

Conclusion:

7. Forthcoming is the name of your girl child, past is the name of your mother. This is the
reality that NO PRESENT, NO PAST, NO FUTURE WITHOUT GIRL CHILD. Female
foeticide is suicide. So, save the girl child and secure the future. There will be the
dangerous results of the female feticide. Demography reports warn India that in the next
twenty years there will be a scarcity of brides in the marriage market mostly because of the
adverse sex ratio.

6. Air Pollution
1. Air pollution is an issue which concerns us all alike. One can willingly choose or reject
a food, a drink or a life comfort, but unfortunately there is little choice for the air we
breathe. All, what is there in the air is inhaled by one and all living in those surroundings.

2. Air pollutant is defined as a substance which is present while normally it is not there or
present in an amount exceeding the normal concentrations. It could either be gaseous or
a particulate matter. The important and harmful polluting gases are carbon monoxide,
carbon dioxide, ozone and oxides of sulphur and nitrogen. The common particulate
pollutants are the dusts of various inorganic or organic origins. Although we often talk of
the outdoor air pollution caused by industrial and vehicular exhausts, the indoor pollution
may prove to be as or a more important cause of health problems.

3. Recognition of air pollution is relatively recent. It is not uncommon to experience a

feeling of ‘suffocation’ in a closed environment. It is often ascribed to the lack of oxygen.
Fortunately, however, the composition of air is remarkably constant all over the world.
There is about 79 per cent nitrogen and 21 per cent oxygen in the air the other gases
forming a very small fraction. It is true that carbon dioxide exhaled out of lungs may
accumulate in a closed and overcrowded place. But such an increase is usually small
and temporary unless the room is really airtight. Exposure to poisonous gases such as
carbon monoxide may occur in a closed room, heated by burning coal inside. This may
also prove to be fatal.

4. What is more common in a poorly ventilated home is a vague constellation of

symptoms described as the sick building syndrome. It is characterized by a general
feeling of malaise, headache, dizziness and irritation of mucous membranes. It may also
be accompanied by nausea, itching, aches, pains and depression. Sick building
syndrome is getting commoner in big cities with the small houses, which are generally
over furnished. Some of the important pollutants whose indoor concentrations exceed
those of the outdoors include gases such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxides of
nitrogen and organic substances like spores, formaldehydes, hydrocarbon aerosols and
allergens. The sources are attributed to a variety of construction materials, insulations,
furnishings, adhesives, cosmetics, house dusts, fungi and other indoor products.

5. Byproducts of fuel combustion are important in houses with indoor kitchens. It is not
only the burning of dried dung and fuel wood which is responsible, but also kerosene and
liquid petroleum gas. Oxides of both nitrogen and sulphur are released from their
combustion.

6. Smoking of tobacco in the closed environment is an important source of indoor

pollution. It may not be high quantitatively, but significantly hazardous for health. It is
because of the fact that there are over 3,000 chemical constituents in tobacco smoke,
which have been identified. These are harmful for human health.

7. Microorganisms and allergens are of special significance in the causation and spread
of diseases. Most of the infective illnesses may involve more persons of a family living in
common indoor environment. These include viral and bacterial diseases like tuberculosis.

8. Besides infections, allergic and hypersensitivity disorders are spreading fast. Although
asthma is the most common form of respiratory allergic disorders, pneumonias are not
uncommon, but more persistent and serious. These are attributed to exposures to
allergens from various fungi, moulds, hay and other organic materials. Indoor air
ventilation systems, coolers, air conditioners, dampness, decay, pet animals, production
or handling of the causative items are responsible for these hypersensitivity diseases.

9. Obviously, the spectrum of pollution is very wide and our options are limited. Indoor
pollution may be handled relatively easily by an individual. Moreover, the good work must
start from one’s own house.
 7. Child Labour
1. For many years now the Governments have been promising the eradication of child
labour in hazardous industries in India. But the truth is that despite all the rhetoric no
Government so far has succeeded in eradicating this evil, nor has any been able to
ensure compulsory primary education for every Indian child. Between 60 and 100 million
children are still at work instead of going to school, and around 10 million are working in
hazardous industries. India has the biggest child population of 380 million in the world;
plus the largest number of children who are forced to earn a living.

2. We have many laws that ban child labour in hazardous industries. According to the
Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act 1986, the employment of children below
the age of 14 in hazardous occupations has been strictly banned. But each state has
different rules regarding the minimum age of employment. This makes the
implementation of these laws difficult.

3. Also, there is no ban on child labour in nonhazardous occupations. The act applies to
the organised or factory sector and not the unorganized or informal sector where most
children find employment as cleaners, servants, porters, waiters, among other forms of
unskilled work. Thus, child labour continues because the implementation of the existing
law is lax.

4. There are industries, which have a special demand for child labour because of their
nimble fingers, high level of concentration and capacity to work hard at abysmally low
wages. The carpet industry in U.P. and Kashmir employs children to make hand-knotted
carpets. There are 80,000 child workers in Jammu & Kashmir alone. In Kashmir because
of the political unrest, children are forced to work while many schools are shut. Industries
like gem cutting and polishing, pottery and glass want to remain competitive by
employing children.

5. The truth is that it is poverty which is pushing children into the brutish labour market.
We have 260 million people below the poverty line in India, a large number of them are
women. Poor and especially woman-headed families have no option but to push their
little ones in this hard life in hostile conditions, with no human or labour rights.

6. There is a lobby which argues that there is nothing wrong with children working as long
as the environment for work is conducive to learning new skills but studies have shown
that the children are made to do boring, repetitive and tedious jobs and are not taught
new skills as they grow older. In these hellholes like the sweet shops of the old, there is
no hope.

7. Children working in hazardous industries are prone to debilitating diseases which can
cripple them for life. By sitting in cramped, damp and unhygienic spaces, their limbs
become deformed for life. Inside matchstick, fireworks and glass industries they are
victims of bronchial diseases and T.B. Their mental and physical development is
permanently impaired by long hours of work. Once trapped, they can’t get out of this
vicious circle of poverty. They remain uneducated and powerless. Finally, in later years,
they too are compelled to send their own children to work. Child labour perpetuates its
own nightmare.

8. If at all the Government was serious about granting children their rights, an intensive
effort ought to have been made to implement the Supreme Court’s Directive of 1997
which laid down punitive action against employers of child labour. Only compulsory
primary education can eliminate child labour.

2. PROMTIONAL TYPE
1. Girl Education

1. If we look at the demographics, India is one of the most populated countries. However,
the rate of girl education is quite low in the country. It is quite troubling to see the figures in a
country where women are given the status of goddesses. The figures have significantly
improved to an extent but there’s still a long way to go.

2. Women were not allowed to even step out of their houses in ancient India, but times are
changing. Along with changing times, people’s thinking is also changing. They wish to
educate their girls and see them succeed in life. However, this is not the case in rural India
which makes for more than 60% of the population. We need to identify the factors
responsible for such low rates of girl education to find some solutions.

Factors Contributing to Low Rate of Girl Education

3. There are various factors that make it impossible for girls to get an education in our
country. Firstly, the poverty rate is alarming. Even though education is being made free, it
still involves a substantial cost to send girls to school. Therefore, families who are struggling
to make ends meet fail to pay the educational expenses of their children.

4. Secondly, in rural areas, there aren’t many schools. This creates a distance problem as
they are located far from the villages. In some areas, students have to walk for three to four
hours to reach their school. This is where the safety of the girls gets compromised so
parents don’t see it fit to send them off so far.
5. Furthermore, the regressive thinking of the people makes it tougher for girls to get an
education. Some people still believe girls are meant to stay in their houses and look after
the kitchen. They do not like women to do any other tasks expect for household ones.

6. Other than that, social issues like child marriage and child labor also stop the girl from
getting an education. Parents pull daughters out of school to marry them off at an early age.
Also, when girls indulge in child labor, they do not get time to study.

Benefits of Girl Education

7. If we wish to see India progress and develop, we need to educate our girl child. They are
indeed the future of our nation. Moreover, when they become educated, they will not have
to be dependent on others for their livelihood.

8. One of the most important benefits of girl education is that the country’s future will be
brighter and better. Similarly, our economy can grow faster if more and more women
become financially strong thereby reducing poverty.

9. Furthermore, women who are educated can take proper care of their children. This will
strengthen the future as lesser kids will die due to a lack of vaccination or a similar reason.
Even for women, they will be less likely to become a patient of HIV/AIDS as they will be
aware of the consequences.

10. Most importantly, educated women can result in a decrease in social issues like
corruption, child marriage, domestic abuse and more. They will become more confident and
handle their families better in all spheres. Thus we see how one educated woman can bring
so much change in her life along with the others as well.

2. Use of Technology in Education

1. A typical classroom was once characterised by students sitting through hour-long
teacher lectures. Now it is changing gradually. Recently more than 12000 schools across
560 districts in India have adopted smart classes. This means that classrooms are
adopting technology by having digital learning tools, such as computers, printers,
projectors etc. ‘Eyes work more than ears’ is the mantra behind the widespread usage of
these tools. The digital learning is user- friendly, self explanatory and makes the process
more interesting. Use of graphics simplify the concepts of difficult subjects like Maths,
Biology, Chemistry, Physics. It increases the student’s engagement and motivation and
accelerates learning.

2. Even for toddlers, digital learning/technology involves the use of all their senses while
learning in a very playful manner. With technology, educators, students and parents have
a variety of learning tools at their fingertips. Here are some ways in which technology has
improved education over a “span of time. Technology supports learning 24×7 and builds
21st century skills. It expands course offerings and learning materials. Teachers can now
communicate with others across the world, meet the shortcomings of their work, thus
providing their students with the best. Technology gives students immediate access to
abundance of quality information which leads to learning at a much quicker rate than
before.

3. The internet provides a variety of knowledge and doesn’t limit students to one person’s
opinion. Explaining a lesson with the help of audio or visual aids helps in deeper
understanding and better clarification.

4. Online education is now accredited and has changed the way we view education.
Students, even professionals can take it as a part-time, or full time course for their
progress from anywhere and at anytime. Popular in such education is a practice, in which
students watch videos of already recorded teaching and creates extended classroom
communities for discussions or virtual classrooms etc. It eliminates the travel time and
travel costs of students.

5. In India more and more companies are coming forward to provide technology based
education with customised settings. To name a few are like NIIT, IL&FS, HCL
Infosystems, Tata Interactive Systems etc. Even parents want the best for their wards
and are not averse to paying a little extra. They see value in these initiatives by schools
to modernise the way teaching is imparted today. Technology in education is preparing
the students for the future or more precisely ‘next generation’. Indian government is not
ignorant to the development and so has come up with a National Mission on Education
through information and communication technology. It aims to eliminate digital illiteracy
by distributing the Aakash tablets to students across India at very low rates.

3. Women Empowerment
1. Today’s woman is a highly self-directed person, alive to the sense of her dignity and
the importance of her functions in the private domestic domain and the public domain of
the world of work. Women are rational in approach, careful in handling situations and
want to do things as best as possible. The Fourth World Conference of Women held in
Beijing in September 1995 had emphasized that no enduring solution of society’s most
threatening social, economic and political problems could be found without the
participation and empowerment of the women. The 1995 World Summit for Social
Development had also emphasized the pivotal role of women in eradicating poverty and
mending the social fabric.

2. The Constitution of India had conferred on women equal rights and opportunities
political, social, educational and of employment with men. Because of oppressive
traditions, superstitions, exploitation and corruption, a majority of women are not allowed
to enjoy the rights and opportunities, bestowed on them. One of the major reasons for
this state of affairs is the lack of literacy and awareness among women. Education is the
main instrument through which we can narrow down the prevailing inequality and
accelerate the process of economic and political change in the status of women.

3. The role of women in a society is very important. Women’s education is the key to a
better life in the future. A recent World Bank study says that educating girls is not a
charity, it is good economics and if developing nations are to eradicate poverty, they must
educate the girls. The report says that the economic and social returns on investment in
education of the girls considerably affect the human development index of the nation.
Society would progress only if the status of women is respected and the presence of an
educated woman in the family would ensure education of the family itself. Education and
empowerment of women are closely related.

4. Women’s education has not received due care and attention from the planners and
policymakers. The National Commission for Women has rightly pointed out that even
after 50 years of independence, women continue to be treated as the single largest group
of backward citizens of India. The role of women in overall development has not been
fully understood nor has it been given its full weight in the struggle to eliminate poverty,
hunger, injustice and inequality at the national level. Even when we are at the threshold
of the 21st century, our society still discriminates against women in matters of their rights
and privileges and prevents them from participating in the process of national and
societal progress. Various Committees and Commissions have been constituted before
and after the independence to evaluate the progress in women’s education and to
suggest ways and means to enhance the status of women. The female literacy rate has
gone up in the 20th century from 0.6 per cent in 1901 to 39.29 per cent in 1991 but India
still possesses the largest number of illiterate women in the world. The female literacy
index for the year 1991 shows that there are eight States which fall below the national
average. The most populous States of the country, UP, MP, Bihar and Rajasthan fall in
the category of most backward States as far as female literacy is concerned.

5. The prevailing cultural norms of gender behaviour and the perceived domestic and
reproductive roles of women tend to affect the education of girls. Negative attitude
towards sending girls to schools, restrictions on their mobility, early marriage, poverty and
illiteracy of parents affect the girl’s participation in education.

6. Women’s political empowerment got a big boost with the Panchayati Raj Act of 1993
which gave them 30 per cent reservation in Village Panchayats, Block Samities and Zila
Parishads throughout the country. The National Commission for Women was also set up
in 1992 to act as a lobby for women’s issues.

7. The educational system is the only institution which can counteract the deep
foundations of inequality of sexes that are built in the minds of people through the
socialization process. Education is the most important instrument of human resource
development. Educational system should be used to revolutionize the traditional attitudes
and inculcate new values of equality.

4. Parenting
1. Too many parents these days can’t say no to their children. As a result, they find
themselves raising ‘children’ who respond greedily to the advertisements aimed right at
them. Even getting what they want doesn’t satisfy some kids; they only want more. Now,
a growing number of psychologists, educators and parents think it’s time to stop the
madness and start teaching kids about what’s really important: values like hard work,
contentment, honesty and compassion. The struggle to set limits has never been tougher
and the stakes have never been higher. One recent study of adults who were
overindulged as children, paints a discouraging picture of their future: when given too
much too soon, they grow up to be adults who have difficulty coping with life’s
disappointments. They also have distorted sense of entitlement that gets in the way of
success in the work place and in relationships.

2. Psychologists say that parents, who overindulge their kids, set them up to be more
vulnerable to future anxiety and depression. Today’s parents themselves raised on
values of thrift and self sacrifice, grew up in a culture where no was a household word.
Today’s kids want much more, partly because there is so much more to want. The oldest
members of this generation were born in the late 1980s, just as PCs and video games
were making their assault on the family room. They think of MP3 players and flat screen
TV as essential utilities, and they have developed strategies to get them. One survey of
teenagers found that when they crave for something new, most expect to ask nine times
before their parents give in. By every measure, parents are shelling out record amounts.
In the heat of this buying blitz, even parents who desperately need to say no find
themselves reaching for their credit cards.

3. Today’s parents aren’t equipped to deal with the problem. Many of them, raised in the
1960s and ’70s, swore they’d act differently from their parents and have closer
relationships with their own children. Many even wear the same designer clothes as their
kids and listen to the same music. And they work more hours; at the end of a long week,
it’s tempting to buy peace with ‘yes’ and not mar precious family time with conflict.
Anxiety about future is another factor. How do well intentioned parents say no to all the
sports gear and arts and language lessons they believe will help their kids thrive in an
increasingly competitive world? Experts agree: too much love won’t spoil a child. Too few
limits will.

4. What parents need to find, is a balance between the advantages of an affluent society
and the critical life lessons that come from waiting, saving and working hard to achieve
goals. That search for balance has to start early. Children need limits on their behaviour
because they feel better and more secure when they live within a secured structure.
Older children learn self control by watching how others, especially parents act. Learning
how to overcome challenges is essential to becoming a successful adult. Few parents
ask kids to do chores. They think their kids are already overburdened by social and
academic pressures. Every individual can be of service to others, and life has meaning
beyond one’s own immediate happiness. That means parents eager to teach values have
to take a long, hard look at their own.

3. DEBATABLE TYPE

1. Social Media

Social media is a tool that is becoming quite popular these days because of its user-friendly
features. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and more are giving
people a chance to connect with each other across distances. In other words, the whole
world is at our fingertips all thanks to social media. The youth is especially one of the most
dominant users of social media. All this makes you wonder that something so powerful and
with such a massive reach cannot be all good. Like how there are always two sides to a
coin, the same goes for social media. Subsequently, different people have different opinions
on this debatable topic. So, in this essay on Social Media, we will see the advantages and
disadvantages of social media.

Advantages of Social Media

When we look at the positive aspect of social media, we find numerous advantages. The
most important being a great device for education. All the information one requires is just a
click away. Students can educate themselves on various topics using social media.

Moreover, live lectures are now possible because of social media. You can attend a lecture
happening in America while sitting in India.

Furthermore, as more and more people are distancing themselves from newspapers, they
are depending on social media for news. You are always updated on the latest happenings
of the world through it. A person becomes more socially aware of the issues of the world.

In addition, it strengthens bonds with your loved ones. Distance is not a barrier anymore
because of social media. For instance, you can easily communicate with your friends and
relatives overseas.

Most importantly, it also provides a great platform for young budding artists to showcase
their talent for free. You can get great opportunities for employment through social media
too.
Another advantage definitely benefits companies who wish to promote their brands. Social
media has become a hub for advertising and offers you great opportunities for connecting
with the customer.

Disadvantages of Social Media

Despite having such unique advantages, social media is considered to be one of the most
harmful elements of society. If the use of social media is not monitored, it can lead to grave
consequences.

It is harmful because it invades your privacy like never before. The oversharing happening
on social media makes children a target for predators and hackers. It also leads to cyber
bullying which affects any person significantly.

Thus, the sharing on social media especially by children must be monitored at all times.
Next up is the addition of social media which is quite common amongst the youth.

This addiction hampers with the academic performance of a student as they waste their
time on social media instead of studying. Social media also creates communal rifts. Fake
news is spread with the use of it, which poisons the mind of peace-loving citizens.

In short, surely social media has both advantages and disadvantages. But, it all depends on
the user at the end. The youth must particularly create a balance between their academic
performances, physical activities, and social media. Excess use of anything is harmful and
the same thing applies to social media. Therefore, we must strive to live a satisfying life with
the right balance.

2. Education System in India

1. Given the standing of some of its institutions of higher learning, the IITs and IIMs, India
is a potential knowledge power. Realising the potential, however, is not going to be easy.
The impressive strides made by Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) notwithstanding, universal
access to quality school education- a minimum necessary condition for any progress
towards making India a knowledge society’, as the 2006 report of the National Knowledge
Commission (NKC) puts it-remains a distant goal.

2. There is as yet no legislation at the national level to affirm the right to education, a
fundamental right under the Constitution. The number of school buildings for elementary
and secondary education falls far short of requirements and so does the number of
qualified teachers. The pressure on government budgets, which forces governments to
hire teachers on contract paying a pittance of a salary, is playing havoc with quality.
While the incursion of the private sector in the field is providing some competition,
mechanisms to enforce the required standards are lacking.

3. Not that there are no national standards or standards-enforcing agencies. We have the
National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to bring out textbooks
in various subjects for school education. The central government runs several model
schools. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) conducts examinations for
schools affiliated to it across the country. The states too have their school boards to
conduct exams and enforce minimum standards. How even the standards vary widely. In
their anxiety to show spectacular performance, some states are overly lenient-in marking
answer papers.

4. Questions arise even over the standards applied by CBSE. Going by the number of
students securing 90% or more in their higher secondary exam, it would appear India is
on the brink of a knowledge revolution. The numbers are so large that the cut-off point for
admission to top colleges is now above 90%. However, admissions to IITs and medical
colleges are not based only on CBSE or state board exam results. Leading
undergraduate colleges offering non-professional degree courses hold their own
admission tests. Obviously, higher secondary school results are not taken to be a reliable
index of the quality of a student’s learning capability or potential.

5. It is not difficult to see why. In the CBSE class XII exam, the number of successful
candidates securing more than 90% in economics this year turned out to be over 8000 in
the Delhi region alone; in English it was above 9000. The numbers seem to be growing
every year. If the country produces so many children who attain very high levels of
performance even before graduation, we can expect India to produce Amartya Sens by
the dozens.

6. While scoring high marks or even 100 out of 100 may not be out of a good student’s
reach in subjects like mathematics or physics, it is difficult to figure out the quality of the
answers that fetch 90% marks in Economics or English. The standards applied by higher
secondary boards like CBSE seem to have been diluted to the point that leaves a big gap
between what students learn at school and what they have to face on entering institutions
of higher learning. Thriving teaching shops around the country promise to bridge that
gap.

7. In an attempt to remedy the situation, NCERT had recently commissioned experts to

rewrite textbooks on macro and micro economics. Though not entirely free from
blemishes, these new texts should go some way in helping beginners get acquainted with
the basic concepts in the subject and their applications.

8. Not surprisingly, their introduction is facing roadblocks. Teachers do not like to be

compelled to look at textbooks they are not familiar with. Those who revel in seeing
students score 90% are chary of ushering in something that may stop the rush of such
scores. Lastly, even teaching shops see red as they fear loss of business if the higher
secondary finalists can get their skills upgraded without buying their help.